
Class ___J1B:414l 



Book 



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R<?7 



LETTER 



GEN. BYRON M. CUTCHEON 



RELATING TO 



H. R. 8989, 

TO CREATE A SPECIAL ROLL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE 
" VOLUNTEER RETIRED LIST," 



BEFORE THE 



COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, 



y ^. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OJ^J^ICE 
1907. 



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]^N 7, 1907 
D. ofD. 



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611 Pearl Street, 
YpsUanti^ Mich.^ Decemher 31^ 1906. 
Hon. H, Olin Young, 

House of Representatives^Washijigton., D. C. 

Dear Sir: I have this morning received and read the statement of 
Gen. S. L. Glasgow before your committee in regard to the " Volunteer 
retired list" bill, now pending in committee, and I want to add a few 
words thereto. 

I First, in regard to pensions: General Glasgow's statement is not 
clear, and I must think, in speaking, his words were not fully taken 
down. 

You are, of course, aware that in the pension laws no specific pen- 
sions are provided for otticers above the rank of lieutenant-colonel. 
Above that general officers and general officers by brevet are ranked 
with lieutenant-colonels unless Congress sees fit to pass special bills 
for their benefit, as they have done in many cases. Under the present 
rule for age pensions they may get $12 per month. 

If the question is asked why a brigadier-general should get a larger 
pension than a captain or major, 1 return by asking why should a 
brigadier-general get more pay than a captain or major. Yet they 
always have in our army and in every army in the world. It is a uni- 
versally recognized fact, and is based on greater age, greater knowl- 
edge, and ability, greater expense in maintaining the position, and 
the vastly greater responsibility and importance of the command. 

At Cedar Creek 1 general turned the tide of the day from dis- 
aster to victory when 20,000 men were falling back in disorder; at 
Chickamauga 1 Thomas was worth 10,000 men. 

At the "Bloody Angle," at Spottsylvania, General Lee saved the 
day to his army by his presence and personal exposure and daring. 

Chairman Hull can doubtless recall instances in his own knowledge 
where a colonel saved his regiment from disaster, or a brigade com- 
mander was equal to a fresh regiment. 

Next, in regard to age: I take \\\j own regiment — the Twentieth 
Michigan — as a fair illustration. The average age of the enlisted men 
was under 22 years. The age of the captains and lieutenants was 
about the same as the men. In the company which I raised in this 
town for that regiment, the captain (Allen) was 21 and the two lieu- 
tenants (Van Cleve and Row) were each 22. Looking through the 
roster, I find they run about the same throughout the regiment, with 
two exceptions, and they were promptly mustered, out when we got 
into the field. 

But the field officers (from whom the higher ranks were mostly 
filled) were in my regiment aged as follows: 

Colonel ( Williams) 35 

Lieutenant-colonel (Smith) 39 

Major (Cutcheon ) 26 

100 
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4 LETTER OF GEN. BYRON M. CUTCHEON. 

Average age, 33^. A difference in the average of more than ten 
years. The men and compan}^ officers were mostly boys from the 
farms and schools, many of them not more than if or 18 3^ears old. 
One adjutant of the regiment (Berry) enlisted at 18 and was adjutant 
at 19. C. A. Lounsberry entered the regiment as sergeant at 19 and 
was captain at 20, and came home with the regiment in 1865 as 
lieutenant-colonel at 22. 

I think General Glasgow understates rather than overstates the facts 
in regard to age. I believe the 5^oungest officer that reached the grade 
of brigadier-general b}^ brevet from Michigan was James H. Kidd, of 
Ionia. He entered the service as captain at 22, and by gallantry rose 
to be colonel and brevet brigadier-general; but he is the exception that 
proves the rule. 

I Avish that all who served in the civil war two and one-half years, 
at least one j^ear at the front, and who have attained the age of 70, 
could be put on half pa3\ But I fear that to attempt it now would 
defeat the whole measure. 

To recapitulate: 

1. The class is a small one and a meritorious one. 

2. This measure is a tentative one; the facts are fully investigated 
and known. 

3. The cost is a mere nothing to the country. 

4. B}^ another Congress the facts in regard to the number and rank 
of survivors of lower grades can be fully investigated and known, and 
the scope of the act should be broadened to meet their cases. 

5. This is not a baseless discrimination in favor of officers who 
attained the rank of general officers, but is simply applying principles 
already well established by precedent. The recognition is based upon 
greater age, greater and more important service, and the greater 
responsibility involved. 

6. With most of the eligibles it is now or never; they are passing 
away rapidly. 

Amend the bill if the committee thinks it must, but let us have a 
report. If it is to be killed let the House take the responsibility, and 
let it die in the open with a roll call of the House. 

This may be the last chance you will ever have to render so great a 
service to these men who offered all to their country in their strong 
youth. 

I will be glad if you will bring these considerations to the attention 
of other members of the committee. 
I have the honor to be 

Yours, most respectfully, 

Byron M. Cutcheon, 
Once Colonel Twentieth and Twenty -seventh Michigan^ 

and Brevet Brigadier- General^ V. S. Volunteers. 

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